Ali Nazik - Smoked Aubergine with Yoghurt

I have a recipe for you from southeast of Turkey where I come from 😍 Aubergines are one of the main vegetables that is cherished and used a lot in Gaziantep's cuisine. This recipe will hit many spots on your flavor scale. Smoked aubergines are giving a lot of character to this dish but you can of course just cook them in your oven ☺️

Ingredients serve for 2-3 people:

For the meat:

• 50g butter
• 300g minced meat
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1.5 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp chili
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Salt to taste

For the aubergine with yoghurt

• 1 kg aubergine
• 30 g butter
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 400g strained real :) greek yoghurt
• Salt and black pepper to taste

To garnish (optional):

Roast 1 aubergines cut in small cubes and 6-10 cherry tomatoes, covered in oil until they are soft.

• Preheat the oven to 200C.
• Cook the aubergines on the stove until they are soft and completely smoked. Instead of this step you can prick the aubergines with a knife and bake in the 200C oven for an hour until it is thoroughly cooked.
• Removed the aubergines from the stove or oven, set aside until they are cool enough to peel.
• Meat:

Heat the butter in a large pan over medium heat, add the meat and cook for 15 minutes. Add the paprika powder and chili powder, salt and black pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for further 3 minutes. Keep it warm until you make the aubergines with yoghurt.

• Aubergine with yoghurt:

Heat the butter in a small pot over medium heat, add the garlic and fry for 10 seconds. Add the peeled and cut aubergine, salt and black pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Remove it from the heat and mix it with yoghurt until it is well combines together.

• Transfer aubergine with yoghurt mixture to serving bowls and place the meat mixture on top. Garnish it with aubergines and cherry tomatoes (optional).
• Serve it with Lebanese bread or pita.

Enjoy! 🕺🏻